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While this producer has nice fruit, a refined craft, they have an issue with alcohol burn in this bottling. While it’s 14.5% ABV, it’s showing hotter. You get an alcohol burn across your palate and in the back of the throat. They don’t mask or process their alcohol as well as a number of other even less revered producers. For the trained palate, alcohol burn will always be a critical flaw in wine. It’s also still just approaching teenage years, even after roughly 13 years in bottle. The nose reveals, alcohol vapors, ripe; dark currants, blackberries, baked black plum, dark cherries, black raspberries & boysenberries. Dark chocolate, loads of big baking spices; vanilla, clove, nutmeg. Anise, some dry herbaceous, saline, dry crushed rocks, underbrush, plenty of new oak, black tea, hints of black olive, band aid with old lavender and dark withering flowers. The body is full with big, round, tarry, sticky tannins. The structure, tension, length and balance are still developing but, good. This wine still needs another 6-8 years and perhaps plus in bottle. Ripe; dark currants, blackberries, baked black plum, dark cherries, black raspberries, boysenberries & creamy raspberries. Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate, caramel, mocha powder, loads of big baking spices; vanilla, clove, nutmeg. Anise, dark medium spice, malt, some dry herbaceous, saline, dry crushed rocks, underbrush, plenty of new oak, leathery, underbrush, black tea, hints of black olive, band aid (brett) with old lavender and dark withering flowers. The acidity is ok but certainly needed to be better. Part of the reason the alcohol shows as hot as it does. The finish is still big, rich, a touch astringent, powdery/dusty, balanced and last minutes. However, leaves my palate feeling incomplete. Time will improve this wine but, believe the alcohol burn remains. I’ve had many less revered producers, for less money that delivered more pleasure. Photos of, hilltop view of their vineyards, cellar with wood & stainless vats, dining/tasting room and the winery building. — 11 days ago

@Dawn Emory I had to Coravin a glass of 02 Joseph Phelps Napa after having this wine. I couldn’t finish my wine night with this Harlan still on my palate. The 02 Napa Phelps gave me infinitely more please than this bottle. The 02 Napa Phelps when I bought it in 04 was likely around $30. This bottle over the $100 threshold. To me, that says it all.

I like the deeper-richer fruits in the Ruinart as change up to the Billecart Salmon Rosé but, while it’s has nice chalk, it just not as powerful and palate piercing as in the Billecart Salmon Rosé. It’s the one definitive thing I prefer about it over the Ruinart. Several previous note still apply. — 4 days ago

It’s been a few weeks and I sure did miss starting the night with my baby 375ml. Ahhhh! Several notes previously and all would still apply!Cheers and best wishes to the people affected by the CA fires. As well, to all the fire fighters. The smoke is in the town I live in and that’s pretty far from where they started. I hate to think what it’s like there!!! — 5 days ago

@Paul Treadway Huntington Beacher Bum Standard retail price is $74.99 for a 750ml. I stock up at the Whole Foods wine sale for $59.98. However, WF’s decided not to do their normal wine sale this November. I guess Jeff Bezos was a little short of $ this fourth quarter. In the past, they have done it 3-4 times a year. We’ll see what Jeff does now that he owns WF’s.

The 2008 Launois Special Club might be the best they’ve made in the 2000’s that’s been released. Pronounced (loon wah). My palate tells me part of this was aged in tank and some of it in wood.It’s made from two plots of 65 year old vines, one in the Grand Cru of Oger called 'Chenys' and one in Mesnil called 'Derriere Maison’. The plots in Mesnil are their oldest.The nose reveals, bruised green & golden apples, apple cider, bosc pear without skin, overripe pineapple, meyer lemon, lime zest, spice, touch of nutmeg, cream soda, baguette crust, walnuts, volcanic minerals, sea shells, nice chalkiness, yellow lilies, acacia blossoms and spring flowers. The body is full, rich, soft & creamy. Micro bubbles. The palate shows nice backbone of minerals and excellent chalkiness. Bruised green & golden apples, apple cider, bosc pear without skin, white nectarines, overripe pineapple, meyer lemon, lime zest, spice, coriander, touch of nutmeg, graham crackers, cream soda, baguette crust, walnuts, volcanic minerals, sea shells, nice chalkiness, yellow lilies, acacia blossom and spring flowers. The acidity is magnificent. The long, rich, well balanced, elegant finish astonishes. It’s very good tonight but will wait another 3-4 years before I open another. Photos of, the House of Launois, two different areas that make up their champagne museum that encompass Champagne’s history and then some, as well as, some of their Grand Cru Vineyards. This 08 Special Club was/is a steal at $59. — 11 days ago